National Infection Control Week 2026: IPAC is Powered by You

October 19, 2026, marks the start of National Infection Control Week (NICW), an annual campaign that recognizes the important role of infection prevention and control (IPAC) professionals, health care workers and frontline staff in preventing infections and supporting safer care across all health care settings.

This year’s theme, IPAC: Powered by You, highlights how the knowledge, actions and collaboration of people across the health system help put effective infection prevention and control practices into action every day.

Recognizing IPAC Professionals Across Ontario
During NICW, PHO is proud to recognize the IPAC professionals across Ontario whose expertise, leadership and commitment help strengthen IPAC practices and support safer care.

We are especially proud to recognize PHO’s own IPAC team and the important role they play in supporting IPAC practice across the province. Through their expertise, collaboration and commitment, the team provides evidence-informed guidance, education, consultation and practical resources that help health care professionals and organizations strengthen their IPAC programs, respond to emerging needs and put best practices into action. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and contributions and proud to celebrate the important work they do each and every day.

Strengthening Hand Hygiene Practices
Hand hygiene is a foundational IPAC practice and one of the most important ways to help prevent the spread of infections in health care settings. However, strengthening and sustaining hand hygiene practices requires more than awareness and education alone.

PHO’s new Hand Hygiene Program provides health care organizations with an evidence-based, practical approach to supporting sustained improvement in their settings. The program replaces Just Clean Your Hands and includes an Implementation Guide and resources focused on:

• Education: Reinforcing why, when and how to perform hand hygiene.
• Environmental supports: Making sure hand hygiene products are available, accessible, fully stocked and functional.
• Habit formation: Helping health care workers turn knowledge and good intentions into consistent daily actions.
• Team-based problem solving: Bringing leaders, role models and frontline staff together to identify barriers and develop practical, locally relevant solutions.

Auditing resources will also support measurement and ongoing quality improvement.

Upcoming Events: PHO Rounds Sessions
In recognition of NICW, join us for the following PHO Rounds sessions:

• Tuesday, October 20 (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET): Trends and Insights from IPAC Lapse Investigations Supported by Public Health Ontario. One IPU credit will be awarded for participation.
• Wednesday, October 21 (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET): Introducing PHO’s Modernized Hand Hygiene Program: Evidence-Informed Strategies for Improvement. No IPU credit will be awarded for this session.